Network measurement and Analysis

Network measurements are essential to pinpoint inefficiencies in all communication systems and to optimize design parameters. We focus on performance measurements of mobile devices, i.e. mobile phones, notepads, laptops, sensors which typically are carried with a user. These devices may operate individually or together. We have recently done performance measurements on moving sensor nodes, mobile phones and laptops and we typically measure TCP, Ping, routing switching times, signal strength and application specific parameters. Of interest is to understand how well they can cope with varying radio characteristics, new protocols and mobility. The network of interest are primarily sensor networks, opportunistic networks and cellular networks (3G/4G).

Projects in this areas could be small and focused or covering many devices and larger geographical areas. The main effort are within designing the test cases and setting up the measurements. The programming effort is relative small compared to other projects. These projects also has an analysis phase to understand and interpret the results. Projects in this area can preferably be combined with literature studies (theoretical) in order to compare results.

Available equipment in this area include software tools, mobile phones, robots, sensor nodes, laptops and network cards for 3G (and 4G). Example of projects could be TCP over one or more ad hoc hops in ad hoc networks, TCP performance of 3G vs 4G when moving at different speed, location and operator or maximum throughput of sensor diffusion protocols in moving sensors.